I’ve been so excited to tell you about this book I just read: When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton.
This book is a sequel to one I read and loved last year: Next Year in Havana.
This work of historical fiction is told from the perspective of Beatriz Perez, who fled Cuba with her family when Fidel took power (their exile is covered in the first book).
“It’s been nearly a year since we left Cuba for what was supposed to be a few months away until the world realized what Fidel Castro had done to our island, and American has welcomed us into her loving embrace – almost.”
Now living in Miami, the rest of her family is trying their best to assimilate, but Beatrice yearns for her homeland and decides to risk everything to save it.
Here are three things I loved about this book:
The history. This book covers the Kennedy election, assassination, and in between those, the Cuban missile crisis. Fidel makes an appearance. I didn’t realize he actually visited New York after taking power, but he did, and this is recreated in this book as Beatriz meets him.
The character. Beatriz is a such strong character.
“Men go off to war and are lauded heroes for sacrificing their lives for their country, for the dedication and patriotism. But women – why are our ambitions designed to end in marriage and motherhood? If we want something else, if your talents lie elsewhere, why isn’t that dedication equally praised and respected?”
Cuba. I talked in my post about the first book about how I went to Cuba many years ago and how it holds a special place in my heart and mind. It is such a contradictory, curious, and beautiful place. The love that she has for her country is understandable and admirable even though we can not agree with its government.
Ok I should have written the “four” things I loved about this book because there is a really good romance too!
This set of books is an amazing pair; I highly recommend!! My only criticism is that I feel the titles should be reversed. “When we left Cuba” more aptly describes the first book. I do love the first title, “Next Year in Havana” because that is what they toast to but it seems more appropriate as the title of the second book because she is actively trying to make that happen. But that’s just something that seemed funny to me.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me advance access to this book in exchange for an honest review.